A vivid action phrase meaning to drop suddenly and quickly to the ground — either to avoid danger like gunfire or an explosion, or as a direct military command. 'Hit the dirt' has the urgency and physicality that makes it perfect for action sequences, war stories, and dramatic moments. It has a strong American flavour and is frequently found in military slang, action movies, and survival scenarios. When someone shouts 'hit the dirt', there's no time for questions — you just go down.
The soldiers hit the dirt the second they heard the crack of rifle fire overhead.
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(slang) To drop suddenly to the ground.
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To fall quickly in order to evade a danger.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.